To understand the best restaurants in Littleton, take a look at the restaurant scene in Colorado. Anyone watching the current season (Season 15) of Top Chef knows that Colorado is the current epicenter of American food culture. And Denver, the big city to Littleton’s north, is in the driver’s seat. Driven in part by the legalization of cannabis in 2014, food trends here are also propelled by the state’s most important drink: beer. According to the Denver Business Journal, Colorado has one brewery per 100,000 people (348). Good eats, such as barbecue, are popular, but, like other regions of the country, greater Denver and Littleton catering businesses are seeing an infusion of Asian and Middle Eastern flavors as well as earth-friendly, sustainable vegetarian and vegan options. With an explosion of recent restaurant options, Littleton catering is booming. Let’s take a look.
1. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit (Lakewood)
Barbecue is America’s most enduring comfort food for a reason. Meats cooked low and slow, no matter your sauce preference, and sides like cabbage slaw and barbecue beans are as hearty as they are delicious. When it comes to Littleton’s catering preferences, locals go for the Barbecue Buffet, which includes two meats, such as Polish sausage and pork ribs, and three sides. Mac and cheese is the classic side order but green beans with bacon, coleslaw, or Caesar salad may attract adherents to the Whole30 or paleo diet programs. A gallon of Sweet Tea adds a southern touch or try the Unsweetened Tea and let guests choose their tea style.
2. Modern Market (Englewood)
Perhaps best known for their layered salads – Thai Coconut, for example, contains sweet potato, toasted coconut, cucumber, cilantro, and a swirl of peanut-mango dressing in addition to the greens – Modern Market makes ordering customized salads and sandwiches easy. Simply choose the number of salads you want, add proteins and avocado (or not), and call it a day. Sandwich Platters are equally simple to order (gluten-free bread is a standard option) and the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich with Asiago cheese and tomatoes is an especially popular catering option. Hint: the same addictive chipotle sauce is also available at breakfast. Look for the Chipotle Egg Sandwich on the Breakfast Sandwich Platter.
3. HoneyBaked Ham (Grant Ranch)
Of course ham is the signature item of HoneyBaked Ham (read up on the company’s origins here) and most of the proteins here are meaty (there is a Mediterranean Veggie option on the Supreme Sandwich Tray). The popular VIP Buffet from this Littleton caterer is laden with your choice of smoked turkey, roast beef or turkey, or ham. Guests can then select from the included cheese, lettuce, tomato, condiments, and bread to customize a sandwich to their likely. Potato salad is a popular side dish and the Mandarin Pineapple Dream Salad with coconut, pecans, and whipped cream sauce, is a classic brought back to life for the age of Mad Men.
4. MAD Greens (Governors Ranch)
Healthy, fast, and fresh is the mantra at MAD Greens where menu items are given fun names to add some swagger to salad. Most popular is the MAD Salad and 12-Half MAD Wrap package where, you guessed it, six wrap sandwiches are cut in half and served en suite with your choice of salad. Named for a character in a famous Spanish novel, the Don Quixote salad layers mango, avocado, and roasted corn with Jack cheese and a creamy ginger dressing on the greens. Albert E’s BLT Wrap adds chicken and ranch dressing to the classic sandwich. Pasta salad (the Huck Finn with pesto and walnuts is a fresh choice) or hot soups, including Creamy Chicken and Poblano, are a nice change of pace.
5. Boston Market (Governors Ranch)
Marinated in garlic, the Original Rotisserie chicken at Boston Market is a Littleton catering favorite. Pair it with one of the popular salads, such as the Southwest Santa Fe Side Salad. Loaded with napa cabbage, black beans, and cheddar, these greens get amped up with a toss of roasted corn-poblano relish, queso and chipotle-cheddar dressing. The accompanying corn tortillas are ideal for wrapping up slices of chicken or beans. Or choose the Build Your Own Chicken Hot Buffet. Select rotisserie chicken or chicken breast or extra meats like meatloaf and zesty barbecue ribs. Two sides are included (mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans with garlic butter are favorites).
6. India’s Best Restaurant & Bar (Woodlawn Center)
Food made fresh every day is the guiding principle of this family-run, Littleton catering business. The Lunch Box, which includes two entrees, such as yogurt-marinated tandoori chicken and spiced spinach and cheese (saag), as well as naan and rice, makes lunch unique and a fun introduction to the flavors of India and Nepal. Much is made of the wonderful flavor of Colorado lamb, which perhaps explains the popularity of the spicy, vinegar-sauced Lamb Vindaloo. Vegetable Biryani makes a great vegetarian entrée or side dish and the Gulab Jamun, milk dumplings served with a rose-scented syrup, is a fresh take on individually portioned dessert and a classic dessert of the sub-continent.
7. Einstein Brothers Bagels (Denver)
Breakfast catering, including coffee, does not get any easier than an order with Einstein Brothers Bagels. Their Breakfast for the Group package includes your choice of pastries (including chocolate chip coffee cake and cinnamon walnut strudel), your choice of schmears (that’s New York-ese for a swipe of cream cheese on your bagel) such as onion chive or reduced fat blueberry, and enough coffee and creamer to get your group through the morning. At lunch, Boxed Lunch includes sandwiches like turkey and cheddar, served with a pickle and chips or fruit and a cookie. Or try a salad such as the Seasonal Almond Salad with greens, fresh fruit, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and light raspberry vinaigrette.
8. Zoe’s Kitchen (Governors Ranch)
Fresh-made Mediterranean is the story at Zoe’s Kitchen where the Hummus Trio including classic, basil pesto and red pepper hummus is a popular appetizer. Awareness at the best restaurants in Littleton of the no-carbs trend is one thing but the best restaurants in Littleton make all their customers happy. At Zoe’s Kitchen, the Hummus Trio Tray dishes up pita and cucumbers with its hummus, satisfying everyone. The Roll-Up Tray is a popular lunch time selection. Choose steak, spinach, or chicken and sides such as orzo tabouli, braised white beans, or roasted vegetables. Chicken and Vegan Veggie Kabobs also come with a choice of sides. Though there are no vegan desserts, there is YaYa’s Handmade Chocolate Cake, a moist, rich cake that tops its chocolate soul with fudgy chocolate icing. It is perfect for celebrating the end of the work week.
9. Damascus Grill (Littleton)
The cuisine of Syria is not yet widely known in the United States. But anyone familiar with the flavors of the Mediterranean will soon understand the regional similarities in dishes from this family-run restaurant. Hummus and Falafel are instantly familiar as is a charbroiled Chicken Kabob Sandwich served in a pita with tahini and salad. Spit-roasted lamb with feta and olives in pickles is at the heart of a Greek Salad with Gyros. For dessert, try the Nammura, almond cake with a rose syrup. Then tell your co-workers that you spotted the rose and botanical flavors trends before they were everywhere.
10. Gigi’s Cupcakes (Aspen Grove Center)
With a gluten-free flavor of the day and gluten-free minis, Gigi’s Cupcakes has won over the wheat-free crowd but their most popular cupcake, the Wedding Cake, might say it all. It is part of the Celebration Mini Cupcake Box along with other popular flavors like Scarlett’s Red Velvet and Midnight Magic. Flavors change every day and there is always a gluten-friendly option such as the popular Triple Chocolate Torte. Or try one of the new flavors — white chocolate raspberry, dark chocolate cherry, and strawberry stuffed French toast are pretty awesome as well. The best Littleton catering now includes great gluten-free options.
Littleton catering offers a wide range of caterers by region and cuisine style. Take a peek at our listings in Littleton to learn more about the best restaurants in Littleton and what to order.